How to Add Speaker Notes in Google Slides Presentation?

Speaker notes in Google Slides can be a valuable tool for improving your presentations. They provide a way to add helpful reminders and extra details that you don’t necessarily want to include on the slides themselves. These notes act like a personal guide, staying hidden from the audience while giving you easy access during your presentation.

By using speaker notes, you can avoid memorizing everything or relying on cue cards. They act as prompts to keep you on track and ensure smooth delivery. Whether you’re giving a class presentation, working on a project presentation, or preparing for an important event, mastering speaker notes in Google Slides can help you deliver your message effectively.

Quick Answer

Go to View → Show Speaker Notes in Google Slides. A text box labeled “Click to add speaker notes” will appear below your slide, click it and type your notes. These notes are private and visible only to you in Presenter View; your audience never sees them, whether you’re presenting live or sharing the file for editing.

How to Add Speaker Notes in Google Slides?

Open your Google Slides presentation.
Locate the speaker notes area. It’s usually a text box at the bottom of your screen that says “Click to add speaker notes.”
Show speaker notes if hidden. If you don’t see the text box, go to the “View” menu and select “Show Speaker Notes.”
Start typing your notes. Click on the text box and begin adding your reminders and talking points for each slide.
Remember, only you see the notes. During your presentation, the speaker’s notes will be visible only on your screen, not to the audience.
Click away to save. When you’re done adding notes for a slide, simply click outside the text box to save them.

Pro Tip: For those looking to improve their note-taking, try using an AI note taker like Jamie AI. An AI note-taking app can help streamline your process by automatically transcribing and organizing key points, allowing you to focus more on crafting engaging speaker notes.

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How to Add Speaker Notes in Google Slides Using SlidesAI?

Install SlidesAI extension for Google Slides
Open Google Slides > Extension > SlidesAI.io > Generate new Slides.
Enter the Topic of your presentation and choose the relevant option.
Select the Presentation requirement.
Below, you will see the option to Add Speaker Notes. Tick the check box.
Select how you are presenting and how long you want your presentation to be.
Select the font style, template and image options.
Review the presentation outline and then the presentation content.
Once you proceed, SlidesAI will generate the full presentation. Do the final review.

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How To Edit Speaker Notes in Google Slides?

Made a mistake in your notes, or need to update them before your next run-through? Editing speaker notes is just as simple as adding them.

Open your Google Slides presentation.
Go to the slide you want to edit. Select the slide from the panel on the left.
Click into the speaker notes box. It’s the text box below the slide editor — your existing notes will already be visible there.
Make your changes. Add, delete, or rewrite text just like you would in any text field. Standard text formatting (bold, italics, font size) works here too.
Click outside the notes box to save. Google Slides autosaves as you go, so there’s no separate “save” step.

How To Use Presenter View With Speaker Notes?

Open your Google Slides presentation.
Launch Presenter View: Locate the “Slideshow” button in the toolbar. Click the dropdown arrow next to it and choose “Presenter View.”
Dual-Screen View: A new window will appear alongside your presentation. This window displays your speaker notes, a timer, thumbnails of the previous and next slides, zoom options, and audience tools.
Focus on Your Notes: Use this dedicated window to refer to your speaker notes while you present.
Navigate Slides: Control the presentation flow from the main browser window, where your audience sees the slides.

How To Print Your Slides with Speaker Notes?

Open your Google Slides presentation. Locate and open the presentation you want to print.
Access the Print Preview: Navigate to the “File” menu and select “Print preview.” Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + P (Windows) or Command + P (Mac).
Choose ‘1 Slide with Notes’: In the print preview window, under “Layout,” look for the “Print layout” dropdown menu. Select “1 slide with notes” from this menu. This will ensure your slides print alongside your speaker notes.
Customize Print Settings (Optional): This window allows you to adjust additional settings like paper orientation (portrait or landscape), paper size, and color mode (color or black and white) to fit your needs.
Print Your Slides: Once you’re happy with the preview and settings, click the “Print” button to print your slides with speaker notes.

Also Read: How to Add Footnotes in Google Slides?

What are The Benefits of Using Speaker Notes in Google Slides Presentations?

Keeps Slides Clean and Visual
Move detailed explanations, statistics, or background information to speaker notes so your slides stay simple and easy to understand.
Helps You Stay on Track
Speaker notes act as a safety net, reminding you what to say next and helping you recover quickly if you lose your train of thought.
Boosts Presentation Confidence
Having prompts available reduces nervousness and makes you feel better prepared, especially during important presentations.
Improves Timing and Flow
You can add pacing cues, transitions, or time reminders to ensure a smooth delivery and stay within your allotted time.
Supports Deeper Explanations
Speaker notes allow you to expand on ideas, add context, or include supporting points without overwhelming your audience.
Encourages Better Audience Engagement
Since you’re not reading directly from the slides, you can speak more naturally and connect better with your audience.

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Closing Thoughts

Speaker notes are a game-changer for Google Slides presentations. They empower you to deliver confident and informative talks by keeping you on track and providing valuable details at your fingertips. With the ease of adding, viewing, and printing speaker notes, you can focus on connecting with your audience and leaving a lasting impression. So, adopt the power of speaker notes and take your presentations to the next level!

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Frequently Asked Questions About Speaker Notes in Google Slides

Can the audience see the speaker notes?

No, the speaker notes are private to you, the presenter. Only you will see them during your presentation, while the audience focuses on the slides themselves.

Can I edit my speaker notes?

Absolutely! You can edit and modify your speaker notes at any time. This lets you ensure you have all the critical points you want to cover during your presentation.

What’s the advantage of adding speaker notes?

Speaker notes act as a helpful guide during your presentation. They jog your memory on key points and help you avoid missing any important information.

How do I add speaker notes in Google Slides?

Click on the designated area at the bottom of your slide that says “Click to add speaker notes.” Here you can type in all your talking points and reminders.